In memory of William Kenway
William Ernest Karl Kenway was the son of Harold and Sarah Louisa Kenway of “Hagley”, West Shore, Llandudno, writes Adrian Hughes. He was educated at Epworth College, Rhyl, and on leaving became a civil engineer. A keen sportsman, he was a prominent member of Llandudno hockey club.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was working on a major town planning project in Sidcup, London. He joined the Royal Engineers immediately at the declaration of war in 1939.
As an officer in the 12th Bomb Disposal Company of the Royal Engineers, Lieutenant Kenway served with distinction until his untimely death on 30September 1943. He was on mine clearance operations when he was killed, alongside four of his platoon, aged 30 years. He was buried in “Heroes Corner” at Horsham Hills Cemetery, Sussex.
During the Blitz the Luftwaffe dropped tens of thousands of high explosive bombs on British cities. Many did not detonate and it was the role of the bomb disposal troops to defuse these armaments. In September 1941 Lt Kenway and a party of sappers performed “courageous work” in discovering and dealing with unexploded bombs in the Midlands and on one occasion loaded three live bombs into their lorry and drove with them for seven miles into the countryside to avoid endangering lives and property.
